New York-based sustainable technology company Anellotech Inc. and its European partners have advanced bioplastics breakthrough with the production of high-purity bio-based paraxylene – a key feedstock for production of PET.

The project, which involves collaboration with French catalysts and process engineering company Axens and Solaize, France-based IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) research center, used Anellotech’s bio-sourced aromatics made for the development of the paraxylene.

The trio will also produce sample quantities of bio-based benzene whose derivatives - nylon, ABS, polycarbonate and linear alkyl benzene - can be used as alternatives to fossil fuel-based plastics.

Anellotech has also partnered with Japan-based global consumer beverage company Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. to produce the bioPET bottles.

“We’re delighted with this achievement, a key milestone on the path to 100 percent bio-based PET bottles,” said Munehiko Takada, chief specialist of packaging material department at Suntory.

“High-purity bioparaxylene is an important material for our business, especially from a sustainability viewpoint,” he added.

As larger amounts of paraxylene are purified by the French partners, Anellotech said it would begin to make renewable PET resin for prototype bottle manufacture and product trials.

“This latest breakthrough brings 100 percent renewable plastic bottles closer to reality,” said David Sudolsky, president and CEO of Anellotech.

According to Sudolsky, planning is also underway for the first commercial Bio-TCat process plant to produce paraxylene, benzene and other aromatics from loblolly pine wood, to be used in bio-based chemicals and biofuels.

According to Jean- Pierre Burzynskiof IFPEN, the new process developed by the companies offers “an innovative and cost-competitive path to bio-aromatics”.